|
None of my friends play SC2, but one of them just bought the game and I couldn't be more excited. It has been hell not being able to talk about the game with anyone in real life, or to watch a GSL with, or to play games with. The thing is, I don't want to throw him off. He is a complete RTS noob and I've been teaching him the COMPLETE basics-- like the notion of collecting minerals and etc.
I'm selfish, and I want him to get to a level where I can enjoy discussing and playing the game with him as fast as possible. I'm trying to strike a balance in teaching him and giving him advice, without overwhelming him, while still allowing room for rapid development.
Now, I had extensive rts experience (mainly Age of Mythology), but I never touched SC1. It took me about 3 months to get to diamond. I would love if I could shoot for him hitting diamond in about that time frame: does having a coach and someone with whom you can ask questions equal prior rts experience, in promoting growth?
What do you suggest I should do as a mentor? As aforementioned, I want him to become better quickly, without throwing him off.
|
I'd introduce him to the spectator side of things. Show off the TSL games and introduce some of the community's bigger personalities (iNcontroL and day[9] are good starters). Show him what the game CAN look like and see how his appetite looks from there. If he only wants to be a casual gamer then you can't force him to get into it.
But I do think it's important that he sees this side of things too. Day[9] is a great introductory for both of those things now that I think about it. Also, let him play at his own pace as much as you can. It can be really frustrating but he needs to discover things on his own rather than you sitting over his shoulder and harping on him.
|
I'd just play as many games with him as possible while getting him to watch Day9 dailies and pro streams/tournaments. They'll be a huge help. Also Day9 Daily #252 should give him a good idea of hotkeys/mouse and general awareness.
Day9 Daily #252
|
I had a friend who was in bronze league long ago, worked his way up to diamond. Still has a ways to go though. He used to watch Day9 and the GSL a fair bit, it would surprise you how much watching can do for your game. Basically all I did to help was teach him how to macro. I told him that if macro alone can get you to platinum league, then you can start incorporating some micro. Cheese defense comes with game knowledge; if someone cheeses you just quit. You can learn how to defend it once you have decent mechanics. I got his macro up to the point where he could make an early army on Steppes and attack-move it without looking at the other base and beat a very hard AI, then he got into platinum.
So basically, teach him how to make lots of stuff. Start with non-stop worker production. Once he gets used to always producing them, teach him about optimal saturation and expanding and whatnot. Incorporate control groups and hotkeys. Teach him how to train an army early on. Once he learns how to macro, everything else will follow.
Oh and I forgot the most important part... Teach him ONE build order. The most solid one you can find for his race. I taught my friend 3rax, he got to platinum with it then started learning other builds. 4gate for Protoss, speedling opening for Zerg. IMO he should start with Protoss or Terran though, definitely easier to play.
|
I'd suggest watching a couple day9 dailys together with them. Monday Fundays are a good option to start out with if they're really new to starcraft
Otherwise I'd suggest just watching a couple standard dailys with them and if they have any questions inform them.
|
I'm in the same boat as you on this my fellow mentor, not sure how to go about this situation. I've never really had the opportunity to sit down and break down the basics however, the only coaching I've been able to do is giving orders while playing 2v2, which is definitely not the most effective or productive method. It's clear to me my buddy is in that little funk where 1v1 is "too scary" of a mountain to tackle so he'd rather 2v2 with me which is fun at times but is nowhere near as engaging and fun as 1v1. I understand that fear though cause I had it in BW, but when I started 2v2 I just wanted to tackle 1v1 off the bat, and I'm quite happy to be on my way to Masters soon.
|
If you really want to get your friend hooked make sure he is having a fun time first. Trying to drill in MACRO MACRO MACRO from the start might turn him away from the game. Start off slow with some really chill team games and teach him the basics from there while having a fun time overall.
|
Show him some VoDs of whoever you think is a good caster (I'd honestly stay away from Day9 until he actually wants to get better etc). Also, go play some team games.
|
Yea, about the team games guys, the computer on which I game is in the shop, so I have been watching him stream vs easy computer and coaching him in skype.
Wish I could play team games with him, but I can't at this time ><
|
Co-op games against an easy computer is probably the best way to try to introduce them to the game, and if you can somehow make it look like they won the game, instead of just you it might make them more interested in it.
From there team games could be used for a bit of fun and the day9 dailies I have always found to be fun and a good way to go for newbies of the game
|
I hear alot about what you want. What does your friend want? Does he want to be diamond and beyond or is he just trying out the game atm to see if he likes it and having fun? The great thing about a RTS like this is that you can have fun even if you are hopeless at it and in bronze.
The first thing isn't to make some progress chart for the poor guy. Make it fun and entertaining over grinding out how to get better at the start. Get him playing a couple ladder games, relaxing and enjoying the game. Watch some games toghter so he can see what things are possible and how things should look. Also he might pick a race 100% then to work with from seeing them in action. Let him play around with the races and pick something he really likes the idea of.
People have mentioned the Day9 dailys and particulary how to get into starcraft 2 #252. But even for him to watch that one he has to want to get into SC2. That is your main task the learning and progress will come naturally. Forget the time frame idea as well. He might be faster at learning and progressing than you or he might like to be more casual and slower.
|
Keep it fun. Make the Day9 Daily or the GSL something you guys get together and watch. I'm not sure about your friend, but all mine kinda buggered off and shunned my SC2 habits since I hover around Diamond League and they barely made it into Bronze and are too stubborn to actually learn.
T_T I wish I had RL friends who had a passion for SC2 like me.
|
On April 08 2011 09:21 Exigaet wrote:I'd just play as many games with him as possible while getting him to watch Day9 dailies and pro streams/tournaments. They'll be a huge help. Also Day9 Daily #252 should give him a good idea of hotkeys/mouse and general awareness. Day9 Daily #252
Honestly I really don't think day9 is the best way for noobs to learn. I for one love day9 but one must look at it from the point of view of a complete outsider. Not everyone is that interested in the game to have to sit through day9s hour long babbling. He talks a lot, and to me I enjoy it cause in love the game, but I know my friends would not enjoy his humor and his are just too long and counter productive fir individuals that are completely new and need more hands on practice and game time than high level analysis. Because day9s insight and analysis is at such a high level, and he has clear understanding if the game, I wish he had shorter segments to teach noobies if anyone could break the game down and teach noobies it would be Sean Plott, his dailies include too much babble at the beginning and in-between for me to give to my noob friends. Hopefully one day he can follow mr. Bitters 12 weeks show, and break things down for a complete noob, but without all his jokes and stories (again I'm one who enjoys it, I dont see how complete newbies could though) considering you're trying to get a noob to learn as FAST as possible, his lessons need to be more to the point and CONCISE!
|
On April 08 2011 09:33 aiyeeta wrote:
Keep it fun. Make the Day9 Daily or the GSL something you guys get together and watch. I'm not sure about your friend, but all mine kinda buggered off and shunned my SC2 habits since I hover around Diamond League and they barely made it into Bronze and are too stubborn to actually learn.
T_T I wish I had RL friends who had a passion for SC2 like me.
Kinda the point I wanted to make in my prev post, we have the passion so we can sit through day9, but to someone not as interested day9 is not the fastest method, cause his dailies entertain as well as teach, noobs that need to learn fast don't wanna sit through day9, it's just too much babble for then.
|
Show him some pro matches and elaborate more on the moves, build orders, and the units usage or watch Day9 with him.
|
Find someone equally bad for him to progress with. 2v1 them sometimes. Show him what he is doing isn't remotely as fun or good as what you're doing. That should make him want to progress to be able to do what you're doing. This is if you think your friend won't play at all without you. Show him cool little tricks as well, use the "cool" abilities and units. He may not be the type of person to go for this though.
If you think he has enough interest in the game already, just have him watch a TON of the more e-sports gateway-esque commentators such as HD, Husky, TotalBiscuit etc. Send him games you think are fun and watch at the same time over skype.
|
Have him do some campaign to learn the basics on controls, then work him against AI. Let him figure shit out as in what's what when playing the AI, no builds. Once he can beat AIs, hard or very hard, then give him one build and have him do it over and over again, first against AIs, then against you, then on ladder.
I think learning protoss or terran is definitely the easiest way. Maybe terran; they are the least reactive. Just scvs, supply depots, and building shit all the time.
I think the easiest way is to have him know the controls, units buildings. Then just tell him everything to do while he plays.
|
Thanks for all the help guys
|
Try to be patient while teaching him the mechanics. One step at a time, play some 2v2 games with him and tell him to only make workers and don't get supply block + expand when he has a lot of money. Then move on to spending all his money and etc. I forgot about the hotkeys :/
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT
